Page 25 of Bound by Alphas 1: Bound (The Blood Moon Chronicle #3)

T he sound of the front door opening broke the moment, my heart racing as I heard Cade and Logan’s voices carrying from the foyer. I pulled back slightly from Keir, trying to regain some composure after that unexpected forehead kiss.

“Sounds like the alpha cavalry has arrived,” I said, aiming for casual despite the warmth still lingering where Keir’s lips had touched my skin. “Should we go practice our ‘we weren’t doing anything suspicious’ faces?”

Keir’s eyes remained locked on mine, his pupils dilated in a way that made my mouth go dry. “I wasn’t planning to hide anything.”

“Of course not,” I replied dryly. “Because nothing says ‘normal Friday evening’ like betting your brother into a sleepover.”

His laugh was low and dark, sending a shiver down my spine. “When you put it that way, it sounds almost innocent.”

“And we both know it’s not,” I muttered, finally standing and putting some much-needed distance between us.

Elena’s voice rang through the house with perfect timing. “Dinner in fifteen minutes! Everyone wash up!”

“Saved by the housekeeper,” I said, smoothing down my shirt unnecessarily.

“Temporarily saved,” Keir corrected, rising from the couch with that predatory grace that made my stomach flip. “We still have our sleeping arrangement to look forward to.”

Right. The bet. In the aftermath of that forehead kiss, I’d nearly forgotten I’d agreed to spend the night in Keir’s room. With Keir. The same Keir who was currently looking at me like I was something he couldn’t wait to unwrap.

“I’m sure it’ll be thrilling,” I said, despite the heat I could feel creeping up my neck. “Nothing says excitement like watching you snore into your pillow.”

“I don’t snore,” he replied with mock offense. “And there are far more interesting things we could do than sleep.”

“Like what? Alphabetize your sock drawer? Compare investment portfolios? Practice your brooding alpha stares in the mirror?”

His smile was slow and deliberate. “I was thinking more along the lines of continuing our conversation without an audience.”

The casual suggestion sent a bolt of heat straight through me. “You’re incorrigible.”

“You have no idea,” he agreed cheerfully, gesturing toward the door. “Shall we?”

We found Cade and Logan in the foyer, engaged in what appeared to be an intense conversation with Drew. All three looked up as we approached, and I didn’t miss the way their eyes tracked between Keir and me with laser-like focus.

“Look what emerged from the art cave,” Drew announced, gesturing to me like I was a rare specimen at a zoo exhibit. “A month of hibernation and he rejoins society for racing games.”

“I wasn’t hibernating,” I corrected. “I was creating. There’s a difference.”

“For a month?” Cade asked, his voice carrying that particular note of authority that always made something in me stand at attention. His eyes performed a head-to-toe assessment that felt more like a caress than a clinical examination. “You’ve lost weight.”

“Thanks for noticing,” I replied, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach at his obvious concern. “I’m trying this revolutionary new diet called ‘avoiding awkward supernatural family dynamics.’ Really melts the pounds right off.”

Logan’s eyes darkened as they swept over me, lingering in a way that made my skin heat. “Avoiding doesn’t seem to be working out so well at the moment.”

“I was ambushed by Drew and his video game posse.” I shrugged. “Resistance was futile.”

“Finn’s quite the racing champion,” Keir interjected, his hand settling possessively at the small of my back. “Though I ultimately prevailed.”

“After cheating,” I added quickly. “He used psychological warfare and illegal touching tactics.”

“Touching tactics?” Logan repeated, his voice dropping to a dangerous register that made my pulse jump.

“He distracted me during the final lap,” I explained, feeling heat rise to my cheeks at the memory of Keir’s hand on my thigh. “Total violation of racing ethics.”

“All’s fair,” Keir reminded me with a grin that made my stomach flip.

“In video games?” Cade asked, his expression hungry in a way I’d never seen before.

“And war,” I replied, attempting to break the strange intensity of the moment. “And probably taxes, though I wouldn’t know since you guys handle all that.”

Drew snorted, clapping me on the shoulder. “And on that note, I’m going to round up the others for dinner. Elena made her famous lamb, and I’m not missing out.”

As Drew disappeared down the hall, I became uncomfortably aware that I was now alone with all three brothers—something I’d been carefully avoiding for the past month.

“How was the town thing?” I asked, desperate to fill the silence with something other than the weird tension crackling between us.

“Productive,” Cade replied, still watching me with that unnerving intensity. “The shipping contracts are settled.”

“Great.” I nodded, as if I had any idea what that meant. “Good shipping. Very important. For… ships.”

Logan’s lips twitched. “Very eloquent analysis, Finn.”

“I’m an artist, not a businessman.” I shrugged. “Words are your territory.”

“Speaking of territory,” Cade said, his gaze shifting to Keir. “What’s this about you ‘prevailing’?”

Elena appeared in the doorway. “Dinner.”

As we moved toward the dining room, Keir leaned close to whisper in my ear. “This is going to be fun.”

“Your definition of fun needs serious recalibration,” I muttered back, though I couldn’t quite suppress the shiver his breath against my ear produced.

The dining room was already buzzing with conversation when we entered. Sophia and Mia had strategically positioned themselves, leaving empty chairs on either side of them. The moment we entered, Sophia waved to Cade.

“Cade! We saved you a seat,” she called, patting the chair beside her with a smile that could only be described as dazzling.

Not to be outdone, Mia caught Logan’s eye. “Logan, there’s room here,” she said, gesturing to the empty chair next to her.

I watched as both brothers moved to take the offered seats, Cade settling in beside Sophia while Logan slid in next to Mia.

The Blackwood cousins immediately angled toward them, their body language screaming interest. Sophia’s hand casually brushed Cade’s arm as she leaned in to say something that made him smile, while Mia’s eyes never left Logan’s face as she spoke.

“Guess that leaves us to fend for ourselves,” I muttered to Keir, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach.

“I don’t mind,” Keir replied, his hand returning to the small of my back as he guided me to two empty chairs across from Drew. “Gives me more time with you.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t deny the small thrill his words sent through me. “Lucky you.”

“Lucky me,” he agreed, his voice dropping to that register that made my insides melt.

“So, everyone ready for the Harborview Festival tomorrow night?” Drew asked, his excitement palpable. “The Howling Moons are headlining the main stage.”

“No way!” Tyler exclaimed. “They never play venues this small.”

“They’re friends of the family,” Logan explained, his casual tone suggesting this was completely normal. “The lead singer’s father is on the council with Cade.”

“Of course he is,” I muttered into my water glass.

“Will you be joining us, Finn?” Sophia asked, her attention momentarily shifting from Cade. “Drew mentioned you usually skip these events.”

“I’m not really a festival person,” I hedged. “Too many people, too much noise.”

“Too many werewolves,” Drew added helpfully.

I shot him a look. “That too.”

“You’d enjoy the art section,” Keir said, his thigh pressing against mine under the table. “They’ve added an entire new area for local artists this year.”

“Maybe,” I conceded, though the thought of navigating a crowded festival with three alpha werewolves hovering over me sounded like my personal nightmare.

“It’s settled, then,” Sophia declared with a bright smile. “We’ll all go together.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to that,” I pointed out.

“You said ‘maybe,’” she countered. “In festival terms, that’s practically a blood oath.”

“My definition of ‘maybe’ must be different from yours,” I replied dryly. “In my dictionary, it falls somewhere between ‘unlikely’ and ‘when hell freezes over.’”

“We’ll convince you,” Mia said with confidence, her hand boldly resting on Logan’s forearm. “The Blackwoods are very persuasive.”

“So I’ve heard,” I murmured, not missing the way Cade’s expression tightened slightly at her words.

“The Blackwood booth is always popular,” Sophia added, leaning closer to Cade. “My uncle brings his special wolfsbane wine.”

“Wolfsbane wine?” I asked, unable to help myself. “Isn’t that, you know, poisonous to werewolves?”

Sophia laughed, the sound musical and practiced. “It’s just a name. The preparation process neutralizes the toxic elements while preserving the herb’s… enhancing qualities.”

“Enhancing?” I repeated skeptically.

“It amplifies certain sensations,” Mia explained with a sly smile directed at Logan. “Makes everything more… intense.”

The way she said “intense” made it clear she wasn’t talking about taste buds.

“I’d be happy to let you sample some,” Sophia told Cade, her fingers trailing along his arm. “It’s quite the experience.”

“I’m sure it is,” Cade replied, his voice dropping to a register that made something in my chest ache.

I stabbed at my lamb with more force than necessary, trying to ignore the irrational jealousy building inside me.

So what if these beautiful werewolf women were flirting with Cade and Logan?

It wasn’t like I had any claim on them. Except for that whole “destined mates” thing that they clearly wanted nothing to do with.

“Careful there, Finn,” Drew said, eyeing my aggressive approach to dinner. “That lamb’s already dead.”

“Just making sure,” I replied, forcing a smile.

Keir’s hand found my knee under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. I nearly jumped at the contact, my fork clattering against my plate.